Madge Morton, Captain of the Merry Maid eBook

With her arm thrown across the teacher’s shoulders
Madge made her way to the houseboat, followed by her
friends. At that moment, to the little, impulsive
girl, Miss Jennie Ann Jones seemed particularly dear,
in spite of her mysterious ways, and Madge made mental
resolve to try to believe in their chaperon, no matter
what happened.

CHAPTER IX

THE GIRL ON THE ISLAND

“Phil, it looks like only a little more than
half a mile over to the island. Do you think
we can make it?” asked Madge, casting speculative
eyes toward the distant island.

“Of course we can,” declared Phyllis.
“I’m sorry that Eleanor and Miss Jones
did not come with us. But they have become so
domestic that they can’t be persuaded to leave
the houseboat. Nelly told me she positively
loved to polish kettles and things,” Phil replied.

Lillian, Phyllis and Madge were in their own rowboat,
the “Water Witch,” which had been expressed
to them from Harborpoint. They were no longer
in the quiet inlet of the bay, where their houseboat
was anchored, but rowing out toward the more open
water. On one side of them they could see the
beach in front of a large summer hotel. Across
from it lay a small island, to which they were rowing.

“Miss Jones doesn’t like to have us start
off alone this way. She has grown dreadfully
nervous about us since our experience in the cabin,”
remarked Lillian. “That is why she didn’t
approve of Madge’s plan this morning.”

“I thought Madge was going to fly into little
bits when Miss Jones suggested it was not safe for
us to row about here in our own little ‘Water
Witch,’” teased Phil.

“Phil, please don’t discuss my temper,”
answered Madge crossly. “If there is one
thing I hate worse than another, it is to hear people
talk about my faults. Of course, I know I have
a perfectly detestable temper, but I hardly said a
word to Miss Jenny Ann. Please tell me what
fun we could have on our holiday if we never dared
to go ten feet away from the houseboat?”

“None whatever,” answered Lillian, “only
you needn’t be so cross with Phil and me.
We were not discussing your faults. You are
altogether too ready to become angry over a trifle.”
There was indignation and reproof in Lillian’s
tone.

Madge plied her oars in silence. She knew that
she had behaved badly. “Isn’t it
exactly like me?” she thought to herself.
“If I am sweet and agreeable one minute, and
feel pleased with myself, I can surely count on doing
something disagreeable the next. Now I have made
Lillian and Phil cross with me and probably have hurt
Miss Jenny Ann’s feelings and spoiled this beautiful
day for us all.”

Eleanor’s soft voice broke in upon her self-arraignment.
“Don’t squabble, girls. The day
is altogether too perfect. None of you are really
cross. Now, are you?”

Three pairs of eyes met hers, then the little dispute
ended in a general laugh.